Ladies Day triumphs at Cowes

Tuesday 10 August – Ladies Day at Cowes Week. No mere ‘fun day’, Ladies Day was introduced to Cowes Week five years ago to mark the increasing contribution of women to the sport of sailing.

Around 30% of Cowes Week’s 8,500 competitors are female this year – up 150% in the last 10 years.

So with sailing one of the few sports where men and women compete on an equal basis, and the Great Britain sailing team holding our greatest medal haul of all Olympic sports, it was only fitting that presenting the coveted Ladies Day Trophy was double Olympic sailing champion Sarah Gosling OBE.

The Trophy, which recognises the contribution, commitment or achievement of a woman in sailing, drew a strong list of deserving nominees, but taking the award was a very surprised X One Design Class Secretary Tina Scott, who had no idea she had been put forward for the award by the Class.

Tina had been instrumental in organising the centenary celebrations of the XOD, including its record-breaking 145-boat Cowes Week fleet.

The XODs’ three days of racing began yesterday, with Perdix taking first place and Tina’s own boat Relaxation finishing fourth.

The Centenary Race itself takes place tomorrow, Thursday, and will be started by HRH The Princess Royal.

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